Telescoping support rod having universal end cap



' 25, N69 K. MJOHNSON 3,429,452

TELESCOPING SUPPQRT ROD HAVING UNIVERSAL END CAP Filed April 13, 1967 I N VE.\' TOR.

KENNETH M. JOHNSON BY a W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,429,452 TELESCOPING SUPPORT ROD HAVING UNIVERSAL END CAP Kenneth M. Johnson, Kensington, Conn., assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, C0nn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 630,569

U.S. Cl. 211105.3 Int. Cl. A47h 1/08; A47f /08 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to telescoping support rods for draperies and like devices and is specifically concerned with a single end cap for assembly over the end of either the larger or the smaller telescoping member forming a support rod and in frictional engagement with the outer surfaces thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel universal end cap for a telescoping support rod which overlies and frictionally engages either the larger or the smaller of the telescoping members to which it is applied. Included in this object is the provision of such an end cap which friction-ally engages the smaller or larger ends of the telescoping rod where-in the ends of the telescoping rod members have uniform exterior dimensions extending fully to the ends thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a single end cap having an unbroken peripheral walland being concentrically mountable over the ends of either the inner or outer one of the telescoping members forming a telescoping support rod so as to be secured thereon by frictional engagement. Included in this object is the provision of an end cap providing a uniform and symmertical appearance on both ends of the support rod.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which is exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a telescoping support rod for draperies and like devices incorporating the end caps of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the end cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the end cap assembled on the outer of a telescoping rod member; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the end cap assembled on the inner of the telescoping rod member.

Referring now to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, there is shown a telescoping drapery support rod mounted on a window frame 12 by a pair of brackets 14, 16 and suit able fasteners such as screws 18. The support rod 10 comprises an inner telescoping rod member 20 and an outer telescoping rod member 22 of similar cross-sectional configuration and dimensioned for assembly in close fitting telescoping relationship to accommodate windows of various widths. The telescoping rod members 20, 22 are shown as being butt seamed tubular members of circular cross-sectional configuration but may be non-circular if desired.

According to this invention, a single end cap or finial 24 of any desired external appearance and formed of any suitable material such as molded polystyrene is constructed and arranged so as to concentrically overlie and frictionally engage either the larger or the smaller of the telgscloping rod members forming the telescoping support r0 0.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, one end of the end cap 24 is provided with an unbroken cylindrical outer wall 26 to define an axial recess 28. The inner surface of outer wall 26 is provided with an equiangularly spaced set of axially ext-ending ribs 30 which extend radially inwardly therefrom. The ribs 30 are provided with a first rib portion 32 of substantially uniform diameter adjacent the entrance of the cavity 28. The rib portion 32 is dimensioned to frictionally engage the outer surface of outer rod member 22, as best shown in FIG. 3, to secure the end cap 24 on the outer rod member 22. The rib portion 32 may, if desired, be provided with a slight converging taper to accommodate manufacturing variations in the outer rod member 22. However, where the end cap is made of a plastic material, such as a polystyrene, such variations may be accommodated by providing that the distance between the tops of opposed ribs is slightly less than the corresponding distance on outer surface of the outer rod member 22. With this construction, and as viewed in FIG. 3, the wall of the outer rod member 22 being resilient and slightly spaced from the end wall 26 of end cap 24, will flatten slightly to permit the ribs 30 to pass over the end of the rod.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the outer rod member is closed by a butt seam 34. Since the ribs 30- apply a compressive force uniformly around the outer rod member, the end cap further serves to maintain the desired configuration of the rod and the butt seam closed.

FIG. 4, which is similar to FIG. 3, illustrates the inner rod 20 assembled in the end cap 24. Since the inner rod member telescopes within the outer rod member 22, it is apparent that its outer dimensions must be just under those of the outer rod member 22. Moreover, the wall thickness of the outer rod member 22 may vary in accordance with the type and gauge of metal used in its fabrication. The end cap of this invention accommodates these variations as well as other manufacturing variations and tolerances.

As viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ribs 30 are provided with an inner stepped port-ion 36, the end of which is dimensioned to frictionally engage the outer surface of inner rod member 20. The stepped ribbed portions 36 are further tapered as best seen in FIG. 3 so as to accommodate variations in the external dimensions of inner rod member 20, as, for example, used where a heavier gauge of metal is used in forming the outer rod member 22. Accordingly, any inner rod of a series of rods of a nominal size will engage the ridge of stepped rib portions 36 so as to be frictionally engaged thereon irrespective of the gauge of metal used.

In order to provide a firm bearing surface between the rib portions 36 and inner rod member 20, it is desirable that the tops of inner stepped rib portions 36 engage a substantial longitudinal portion of rod member 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The resiliency of the wall of the inner rod member 20 enables the wall to deflect slightly under pressure of the contacting ribs to provide the desired bearing surface.

As with FIG. 3, the end cap 24 overlies the end of the inner rod member 20, and with the wall 26 spaced from the outer periphery of both the outer rod member 22 and the inner rod member 20, creates a visual symmetry in the telescoping rod member 10 despite the differences in the outer diameters thereof.

In order to provide added assurance against the inadvertent disassembly of the end cap 24 from the telescoping support rod 10 due to bumping during use, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of axially extending angularly spaced prongs 38 may be provided within the peripheral wall 26 of the end cap 24. The prongs 38 are shown as being disposed inwardly from the ribs 30 to provide a clearance therebetween to receive the ends of the telescoping rod members and project beyond the end of the peripheral wall 26 so as to be engageable with the inner surface of the rod members when the end cap 24 is tipped relative to the rod members.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention provides a universal end cap for concentrically and compressively engaging the outer surfaces of a pair of telescoping rod members with the inner and outer telescoping rod members being of uniform diameter fully to the ends thereof thereby obviating any special manufacturing steps on the ends of the rods after fabricating them to the desired length.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure abovedescribed will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a telescoping support rod comprising a pair of closely interfitting telescoping rod members of similar cross-sectional configuration and an end cap on each end thereof, the improvement wherein said end cap comprises an unbroken axially extending generally rigid peripheral wall defining a central cavity, the entrance portion of the cavity being constructed and arranged to receive the outer rod member in frictional engagement with the outer surface thereof, and a second portion remote from the entrance thereof stepped to a smaller size to receive the inner rod member in frictional engagement with the outer surface thereof.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second portion is tapered to accommodate variations in the outer dimensions of the inner rod member resulting from the use of outer telescoping members of varying wall thicknesses.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinally extending ribs are provided for engaging the outer surfaces of each of said rod members, said ribs being stepped to provide a smaller dimension on the portions thereof remote from the entrance of the cavity.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein the stepped portions of the ribs remote from the entrance are tapered.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein the end caps are formed of a molded polystyrene and the rods are formed of hollow metallic tubular members.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein a plurality of axially extending angularly spaced prongs are disposed within the peripheral wall of each end cap and inwardly from the ribs thereof, said prongs projecting beyond the end of the peripheral wall and engageable with the inner surface of the rods when the end cap is tipped relative to the rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,832 9/1895 Stevenson 211-1052 849,855 4/1907 Repp 211-1053 1,299,556 4/1919 Crecelius 211-1053 2,148,060 2/1939 De Mattia 13554 3,148,895 9/1964 Jasper et a1. 2857 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 138-409 

